MEDITATION MYANMAR, YOGA, SOUND HEALING & TREKKING RETREAT

Immersed in the rich cultures of Shan State, this meditation, yoga, sound healing and Myanmar trekking retreat is held in the ideal setting of a Buddhist country. Myanmar is a country of spectacular nature and numerous cultures. We begin our retreat at the old Colonial British hill station of Kalaw, which is situated among beautiful lush farm lands nestled in misty, cool mountains. Nearby is one of Myanmar’s most special places, a huge cave home to over 8,000 Buddha statues.

We start the retreat by settling into the practices of daily yoga, meditation and sound healing in a tranquil countryside of rich farmland. Then we embark on a two-day leisurely trek through exquisite rice fields and tea plantations, finally arriving at the majestic, world renowned Inle Lake. Here we delight in the awe-inspiring life of floating homes and gardens, and markets that rotate daily from village to village. For our daily mind/body practices mother nature provides the magic of exquisite shimmering Lake Inle and it’s surrounding mountain ranges. These magnificent lands are among the best Myanmar has to offer.

See the detailed itinerary below for a description of the Myanmar trekking days and the Myanmar meditation, yoga and sound healing daily schedule.

THE PLACE

In a country renowned for its golden-topped temples, monasteries and hidden pagodas, where meditation and yoga are a way of life, there is no better voyage to digitally detox and pursue inner fulfillment.

Kalaw - Located 4.8 m from Kalaw downtown, our first accommodations are tucked away in 12 hectares of land in the charming hill side of Shan Plateau. It is an ideal location to blend in with nature and relax in natural surroundings. A farm house, vegetable garden, organic farm and wellness centre are incorporated within the lodge grounds. Mingle with locals to explore and uncover their daily lifestyle.

Trek to Inle Lake - We’ll walk through the lands of several different ethnic tribes and enjoy the rich farming lands abundant with fields of rice, bamboo forests, tea fields and more. We’ll homestay one night with the Pa Oo Tribe. Total trekking time over two days will be 9 or 10 hours.

Inle Lake - Our next Resort is situated at the majestic Inle Lake. Enjoy a private villa amongst a tropical landscape and inspiring views of this lush valley sloping down towards the lake and the Shan hills beyond. Teak-wood bridges span cascading streams and landscaped gardens.

SLEEP & EAT

Kalaw - Lodge rooms are architecturally influenced by the local mud-house style and are 44 square meters. All rooms have en-suite bath. Enjoy delicious locally grown vegetarian meals in the Myanmar tradition.

The Trek - Enjoy a one-night stay at local village homestead and delicious local cooking.

Inle Lake - Floating Cottages with spacious interiors are finished with designer furniture and handcrafted indigenous fabrics and amenities. Utmost comfort and freedom of movement inside and out. Dine above water on the restaurant terrace, choosing from authentic Shan cuisine or European dishes.

MEDITATION MYANMAR, YOGA & SOUND HEALING

Mindfulness Meditation with Brian Hilliard

You will:

Acquire the tools needed to de-stress
Gain greater peace and relaxation
Learn how to mix meditation with daily life
Learn to let go of what is unimportant
Cultivate greater kindness

You will learn the techniques and practice of sitting and walking meditation under the guidance of Brian. Talks, discussions and some periods of silence for inner reflection make the experience complete. Relax and experience the art of letting go. Our Myanmar meditation retreats provide a complete transmission of the practice of meditation.

The meditation sessions are suitable for beginners, as well as advanced practitioners. See The Mindfulness Journal for more on meditation.

Sound Healing with Crystal Bowls

The extraordinary beautiful sounds of crystal bowls set the stage for sound healing and well-being. The benefits of a sound journey with crystal bowls are numerous, including: stress and pain reduction, deep relaxation, self awareness and creativity. Read more about sound healing here.

Mingalarbar! Welcome to Heho, Myanmar. You are greeted by your guide at Heho airport. From Heho airport transfer to Pindaya in your private vehicle (approximately 45 minutes), an attractive drive into the hills and across the Shan Plateau through fields of mountain rice. Visit the magnificent Pindaya Caves set in a limestone ridge overlooking a picturesque lake. Thousands of Buddha images reign within the cave chambers. Afterwards, continue to a local workshop where extraordinary Shan paper and parasols are made. We have found the shop ideal for purchasing gifts. Lunch at a nearby restaurant.

From Pindaya, drive to the former British hill station of Kalaw (approximately 1 hour & 15 minutes), a charming town featuring British-style bungalows set in leafy surroundings.

Check-in at Kalaw Hill Lodge and enjoy a welcome drink.

Healthy welcome dinner at the hotel.

Day 2: Kalaw – Yoga & Meditation

07:00 – 09:00: Sunrise yoga and meditation with Shannon and Brian.

09:00 – 10:00: Vegetarian breakfast.

10:00 – 13:00: Free at your own leisure to explore and enjoy the beauty of Kalaw.

Relax, enjoy a spa treatment, or discover the surrounding area on foot, bike or horseback. Engage in the daily activities of the lodge with its central pond and organic fruit and vegetable farm. You can learn growing and harvesting techniques, and get close in to discover the partnership between humans and buffaloes. Make friends with and feed the cows, running goats and happy chickens. Experience local life at the slow pace of an ox cart ride and learn about the lifestyle of the Danu people, or visit the Nat (spirit) shrines. Plant trees for the planet on this 30 acre property on the highlands of Shan State. Explore a rural living style that shows off the best of nature and the cultural hospitality of Myanmar.

13:00 – 14:00: Vegetarian lunch.

14:00 – 17:00: Free at your own leisure to explore and enjoy the beauty of Kalaw.

Early morning walk to the market to meet your trekking guides and to buy provisions for your 2 day trek. By Tuk Tuk drive about 30 minutes to the starting point, Lamine Village (Toung Yoe tribe). From here we walk about 1 hour to Pin Nwe and Paw Ke Village (Pa Oo Ethnic Group) where you will learn about the local weaving trade. You will also spend some time with a local family and enjoy a cup of green tea. Continue trekking for about 1.5 hours to Khone Hla Village (Da Nu Tribe). We will stop here for freshly prepared lunch at a local house. Then we continue the trek passing rice fields for another 2.5 hour walk to Pe Tu Pork (Pa Oo Tribe), a picturesque village of the Pa Oh people. Here you’ll dinner and enjoy a local homestay.

Total walking hours: 5/6 hours.

Day 6: Trekking to Inle Lake – Day 2

After breakfast, we will start the day with a 25 minute trek to Hti Thain (Pa Oo Village) and visit a monastery along the way.

We continue for a another 45 minutes to Kyut Su (Pa Oo Village) where you watch how bamboo baskets are made. Then another 15 minutes will bring us to Nan Yoke Village where you will learn about local herbs. Then we enjoy a pleasant stroll for about 2 hours to the boat jetty and have lunch at a family-run restaurant. After lunch we board our boat and drive to Pristine Lotus Spa Resort on the lake.

Total walking hours: 3.5 – 4 hours.

19:30 – 20:30: Vegetarian dinner.

After dinner escape to your personal sanctuary for a peaceful sleep.

Day 7: Inle Lake – Yoga & Meditation

07:00 – 09:00: Sunrise Yoga and Meditation with Shannon and Brian.

09:00 – 10:00: Vegetarian breakfast.

10:00 – 13:00: You are free to relax, enjoy the swimming pool or mainstream/indigenous spa treatments.

After lunch you will travel by a long-tailed boat across the lake to the Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, home to five gold leaf-covered Buddha figures, the holiest religious site in southern Shan State. We also visit the boat construction workshop at Nampan village. We'll stop to see some traditional handicrafts : silk weaving on wooden handlooms in Inpawkhon village, and a cheroot-maker's workshop and blacksmith's forge. Continuing by boat we will visit Nga Phe Kyaung Monastery, one of the oldest monasteries on the lake. Here you will see exquisite Buddha statues over 200 years old. Return to your hotel by boat as the sun sets and light softens over the lake.

Explore one of the 5 rotating markets on the lake. It’s a fascinating look at the lifestyles of the Pa-O, Danu and Intha people who buy and sell at the markets.

Next, see the famous leg rowers and the typical floating gardens where fruits and vegetables are grown. Learn about local fishing methods and village life. One of the highlights may be a visit to the traditional village of Paukpar and it’s neat rows of bamboo houses. If possible we will stop and visit a family for Shan tea.

Vegetarian lunch will be served at a local Intha House.

14:00 – 17:00: You are free to relax, enjoy the swimming pool or mainstream/indigenous spa treatments.

After breakfast, travel by long-tailed boat to Indein at the western end of Lake. This is one of the most magnificent trips on the Lake. Pass through the busy village of Ywama, the largest on the Lake with it’s many channels and tall teak houses on stilts. Enter a long, tree-lined canal on which farmers cultivate their lands against the backdrop of the Shan Hills. Disembark and walk for 15 minutes through the Indein village to reach the 14th - 18th century pagoda ruins of Nyaung Ohak. Many pagodas remain unrenovated, enmeshed together with plants and small trees. A covered walkway filled with souvenir stallholders leads up to Shwe Inn Thein Paya, a complex of weather-beaten 17th - 18th century zedi.

Continue on foot to a village nearby where several crops are grown in the traditional ways. Take an easy walk along one of the many creeks passing through rice fields leading to the village of Sae Ma. Visit the village primary school and meet the children and teachers.

13:00 – 14:00: Vegetarian lunch at a local restaurant.

14:00 – 17:00: You are free to relax, enjoy the swimming pool or mainstream/indigenous spa treatments.

After breakfast enjoy some leisure time until we head off to the airport for your flight back home. Say goodbye after an amazing time in Myanmar, or extend your stay in with a direct flight to Thandwe, near Ngapali Beach.

-OPTIONAL- Ngapali Beach is a tropical paradise of pristine sand, clear blue waters and groves of picturesque coconut palms. Over 10km of white sand beach runs along the Bay of Bengal, with a smattering of only a dozen or so resorts to create a sense of seclusion and hidden discovery. The limited development and small number of visitors means the beach never feels crowded. It's a dream come true for lovers of sun, sea and sand. Besides the usual sunbathing and swimming, leisure activities include snorkeling, sailing, scenic walks and bike trips. Far away from tourist crowds, Ngapali Beach is still a truly undiscovered paradise. The long beach is dotted with charming boutique style resorts built in local materials, the architecture blending harmoniously with the natural surroundings. There are no high rises, no noisy roads, no booming discotheques, no jet-skis and no packed rows of oiled bodies baking in the sun. The stretch of white sand, natural beauty of the blue sea, swaying palm trees and quiet privacy are guaranteed ingredients of an exquisite beach holiday.

BESPOKE RETREAT

"Brian Hilliard and Shannon van Staden are leaders in their field when it comes to mindfulness and meditation. Brian is an expert guide - soft spirited, practical, full of empathy, tips and appreciation for the challenges of modern life. Shannon stylishly holds the space and ensures everything runs smoothly. Together they are a dream team on the wellness scene."
– DAISY FINER, Spa and Health Writer